(Liberal Voice Network) – Three San Antonio police officers were charged with murder on Friday after the fatal shooting of a woman during a police call, as announced by Chief William McManus.
The suspended officers, identified as Officer Eleazar Alejandro, Sgt. Alfred Flores, and Officer Nathaniel Villalobos, remain without pay while the investigation progresses. Released on $100,000 bond, they have refrained from providing comments at this time.
During a press conference, Chief McManus stated, “The actions of the officers involved in the shooting were not in line with SAPD policies and training. They engaged in the use of deadly force that was unreasonable given the circumstances as we currently understand them.”
The incident unfolded when police responded to a call regarding Melissa Ann Perez, 46, who was reported to be tampering with the fire alarm system in her apartment complex. Chief McManus mentioned that Perez appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis.
After initial interaction with the officers outside, Perez retreated into her apartment and locked the door. Body camera footage, edited and blurred by the police department, shows officers communicating with Perez through a rear patio window, urging her to come out.
According to the video, Perez exclaimed, “You ain’t got no warrant!” when one officer attempted to open the window. Chief McManus revealed that Perez threw a glass candleholder at the officer, followed by swinging a hammer, which inadvertently struck the window and caused it to break.
As reported, one officer opened fire, but Perez was not hit and could still be heard speaking in the body camera recording. However, moments later, Perez approached the window again with the hammer, prompting all three officers to open fire. Multiple shots can be heard, resulting in Perez being struck at least twice. Despite life-saving efforts, she succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
The arrest warrant highlights that Perez “did not pose an immediate threat of serious bodily harm or death” at the time she was shot since there was a wall, a television-obstructed window, and a locked door between her and the officers.
The expeditious charges brought against the officers align with a growing trend of communities seeking police accountability following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Instances of officer use of force, particularly in cases involving individuals facing mental health crises, have come under scrutiny nationwide.
Perez’s family, represented by attorney Dan Packard, expressed heartbreak and plans to file a lawsuit against the city. Packard emphasized Perez’s struggle with mental illness and cited systemic issues within the police department.
An internal review by the police department will be conducted and subsequently handed over to prosecutors. A preliminary hearing for the officers is scheduled for July 25.
Efforts to reach out to the officers for comment were unsuccessful. The association issued a statement expressing condolences to Melissa Perez’s family while acknowledging the ongoing investigation and legal process.